Congress slams PM Modi’s ‘rushed trip’ to Manipur as an insult

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely three-hour visit to Manipur on September 13, calling it an “insult” and a “non-visit.” This would be the PM’s first trip since the state plunged into ethnic violence in May 2023

New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Manipur, the Congress on Sunday claimed that “such a rushed trip” is an “insult” to the people of the state who have waited for him for 29 “long and agonising” months.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the September 13 visit to Manipur will actually be a “non-visit by the PM”. “His cheerleaders are hailing the proposed visit of the Prime Minister to Manipur on Sept 13. However, it appears that he will be spending just about three hours — yes, just three hours — in the State. What does he hope to accomplish by such a rushed trip?” Ramesh said on X.

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“This is actually an insult to the people of the State who have waited for him for 29 long and agonising months,” the Congress leader said. “September 13th will actually be a non-visit by the PM, who has once again revealed his callousness and insensitivity towards the people of Manipur,” Ramesh said. He also shared a media report on X, which claimed that the PM would be in Manipur for about three hours.

The Prime Minister is likely to visit Manipur on September 13, which will be his first tour to the state since ethnic violence broke out between Meiteis and Kukis in May 2023. The Congress had said last week that though Prime Minister Modi finally may have summoned up the courage and empathy to visit the northeast state briefly, it may be “too little too late”.

More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. The Centre had imposed President’s rule in Manipur after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. The state assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been put under suspended animation.